PREP FOOTBALL : Empire League : Loara Too Much for Pacifica

Loara High School took a big step toward winning the Empire League championship Saturday night with a 28-6 victory over Pacifica in front of 2,500 in Glover Stadium at Anaheim.

The victory improved the Saxons’ record to 2-0-1 in league play. And Loara has concluded play with the league’s top contenders--Esperanza, Los Alamitos and Pacifica.

“No question, they’re in the driver’s seat now,” said Bill Craven, Pacifica coach. “We told our kids on Monday that if they wanted the league title, they had better beat Loara.”

The Mariners (2-1) never came close against a team that was allowing an average of only 4.4 points per game. Pacifica scored only on two field goals.

Loara scored all the points it needed in the first half, opening a 14-0 lead behind the running of tailbacks Andy Janney and Steve Nichols. Janney rushed for 95 yards and caught 2 passes for 22 yards. He caught a five-yard pass from quarterback Scott Wood for one touchdown and scored another on a four-yard run.

Nose guard Danny Rovira set up the Saxons’ second touchdown when he intercepted Pacifica quarterback Brent Johnson’s pass at the Saxon 17-yard line and returned it 27 yards.

The Saxons drove 56 yards after Rovira’s interception to gain a 14-0 lead. Nichols, a sophomore, replaced a weary Janney and did most of the work on the drive. Nichols, who finished with 43 yards, scored on a two-yard run.

Pacifica kicker Derek Mahoney missed a 25-yard attempt in the first quarter that was wide to the right, but he was successful on 46- and 40-yard attempts in the second quarter.

Tony Ferrentino intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown on the game’s last play. It was the Saxons’ 12th interception of the year.

LOARA 28, PACIFICA 6 L--Janney 5 pass from Wood (kick failed)

L--Nichols 2 run (Andros pass from Wood)

P--FG Mahoney 46

P--FG Mahoney 40

L--Janney 4 run (Wood kick)

L--Ferrentino 45 interception return (Wood kick)

Attendance--2,500